December 22, 2014, 4:12PM

Claire Hekker, who suffers from dementia, converses with the doll she frequently takes comfort in a doll she takes comfort in inside the Sauvie Island houseboat she shared with her husband of 66 years, Tom Hekker. Beth Nakamura/The Oregonian

December 22, 2014, 4:12PM

Claire Hekker, who suffers from dementia, converses with the doll she frequently takes comfort in a doll she takes comfort in inside the Sauvie Island houseboat she shared with her husband of 66 years, Tom Hekker. Beth Nakamura/The Oregonian

December 22, 2014, 4:12PM

Claire Hekker, who suffers from dementia, takes comfort in a doll she often interacts with in the Sauvie Island houseboat she shared with her husband of 66 years, Tom Hekker. Beth Nakamura/The Oregonian

December 22, 2014, 4:12PM

December 22, 2014, 4:00PM

Claire Hekker, who suffers from dementia, takes comfort in a doll she often interacts with in the Sauvie Island houseboat she shared with her husband of 66 years, Tom Hekker. Beth Nakamura/The Oregonian

December 22, 2014, 4:00PM

Claire Hekker, who suffers from dementia, takes comfort in a doll she often interacts with in the Sauvie Island houseboat she shared with her husband of 66 years, Tom Hekker. Beth Nakamura/The Oregonian

December 22, 2014, 4:00PM

Claire Hekker, who suffers from dementia, takes comfort in a doll she often interacts with in the Sauvie Island houseboat she shared with her husband of 66 years, Tom Hekker. Beth Nakamura/The Oregonian

December 22, 2014, 4:00PM

Claire Hekker, who suffers from dementia, takes comfort in a doll she often interacts with in the Sauvie Island houseboat she shared with her husband of 66 years, Tom Hekker. Beth Nakamura/The Oregonian

December 22, 2014, 3:51PM

Claire Hekker, who suffers from dementia, takes comfort in a doll she often interacts with in the Sauvie Island houseboat she shared with her husband of 66 years, Tom Hekker. Beth Nakamura/The Oregonian